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VI-SA-GB

A yacht on a port tack, with white hull, filled number one genoa and red white and blue main sail, skimming across a blue green seascape.

Sailing for visually impaired people - The world of offshore sailing and blue water exploration is for the inclusive enjoyment of everyone.

The cold and wet, the windy and stormy, precipitous and frightening seas, and the dark and bewildering oceans are the sailing adventure playgrounds available to all!

Read more about VI-SA-GB



The Cruel Sea

As visually impaired and blind sailing enthusiasts we understand the scepticisms and barriers that have to be overcome and dismantled to go beyond the boundaries and tame the wild oceans.

Read more about the Cruel Sea

Countering misconceptions

We have established VI-SA-GB, the first visually impaired sailing association for blind sailing enthusiasts now on a mission to correct the misconceptions around blind sailing , sailing for visually impaired people and offshore sailing adventure and the manner by which empowerment and independence has sometimes; unintentionally, been compromised through a overly cautious approach, and the lack of understanding and awareness around empowerment and inclusion.

Read more about how we counter those misconceptions



Blind Sailing Media Centre

Last updated 27/02/2012

A sensationally successful gathering yet once more

25.02.12

The response and turnout at the Paternoster Bar for our annual gathering and sailing information catch up was greater than all previous expectations, with many old and new friends coming along to pledge their support and find out in more detail what a sailing extravaganza is in store for them this year, how the association is continuing to strengthen its place as the truly credible leader of the visually impaired peoples sailing sector. With the Paternoster pub packed to its rafters the ‘mast head’ announcements and presentation just had to be centred around the unbelievable success of VI-SA-GB over the last 12 months, and how 2012 was looking to be a a year of both on and off the sea successes for the association.

  • 841 Subscribers to the VI-SA-GB monthly newsletter
  • 226 sighted volunteers registered with VI-SA-GB, a list that grows Daley
  • Hundreds of visually impaired sailors supporting VI-SA-GB with fund raising, awareness training and testimonials
  • 24 Owner skippers making their boats available to VI-SA-GB, some as far away as Greece allowing for our members to have a variety of sailing experiences;both in the UK and abroad
  • 12 sailing events already planned for 2012 and more being worked on
  • VI-SA-GB is now united with both a German equivalent organisation and another in the states allowing us to share experience, resources and become an international visually impaired sailing entity
  • We ensure a course of dedicated Disability equality training delivered to associate sailing projects throughout the UK as well as to our own sighted volunteers,enabling a consistently high standard approach to support visually impaired sailors
  • The first of many Competent Crew and day skipper practical courses tailored to the specific needs of visually impaired sailors
  • A vast collection of donated existing adapted technology for navigation as well as a new project with the BBC R&D team, developing specific navigational aids for visually impaired people
Project presentations were given in person by Tim Thomas for EAST Bob Cockerell for RSP Peter Kennedy from DSP and apologies received from David Harris at Gwenilli This year for the first time our association with Tideway at Surrey Docks in London was promoted by Richard and Andy Hussey, on behalf of this project; encouraging people to get involved and develop their sail handling skills on the waterside adjacent the Thames. The VI-SA-GB fundraising campaign got off to a stonking start with our first ever raffle raising close on £400 for the association, and with prizes going to: Jeff Bungay, Brian Walton, Stuart Ross, Chris Hyde, Colin Palgrave, Sarah Fortescue,amongst others. Our thanks have to go out to: 
  • Marine Superstore – Port Solent
  • Piplers – Poole
  • Overboard – Southampton
  • Adler Coles Nautical – London
  • Fox 40 – Surrey
  • The RYA
  • O2
  • Lush
  • Youngs Brewery
  • And VI-SA-GB volunteers and Trustees
who generously donated prizes.

VI-SA-GB announce volunteers 'Fam' weekend

12.02.12 Have you the competence needed for sailing with visually impaired people? VI-SA-GB is running its first familiarisation weekend for volunteers from Gosport on 24/25 March, and recently recruited volunteers are strongly urged to get their names registered as places will be limited for this first awareness weekend. The course will cover:
  • Facilitation
  • Empowerment
  •  Terminology
We will concentrate on conduct around promoting visually impaired people as equals within the yachting sector rather than the danger to equality and disempowerment associated from incorrect approaches of expecting indefinite gratitude and using some kind of kudos gained from ‘taking VI’s’ sailing to benefit one self personally through personal philanthropy, discounts and favours. The ‘fam’ will commence on the Saturday morning 24th March at 10:00 from Premier Marina, Gosport, and be divided into morning and afternoon sessions of three hours for 3 volunteers on each session per day. The final session finishing on Sunday around 17:00.

Gwenilli publish 2012 sailing programme

09/02/12

EAST publish 2012 sailing programme

09/02/12

A letter from our Commodore

06.02.12Our annual letter of sincere appreciation to all that support VI-SA-GB's mission

February's edition of the VI-SA-GB newsletter of

01.01.12

A bumper packed edition of the February 2012 VI-SA-GB Newsletter is dropping into mail boxes as we update the news here.

Raffle prizes are flooding in for the VI-SA-GB 2012 VI-SA-GB gathering

13.01.12

We have had a tremendous response for donations to be used as prizes at this years annual gathering and catch up afternoon on 25th February.

Prizes include:

  • Olympus DM5 digital voice recorder
  • Nokia E52 Mobile phone with Simbion 60 O/S and preloaded talks software
  • Marine Store prizes
  • 2012 Cruising almanac and Tide almanac
  • Gil rucsac
  • 40 litre Dry Bag
  • Mac Collerteri Safety Knive
  • The Solent by Terry Heathcote and Fred Barter

VI-SA-GB launches their exclusive Boat donation scheme at the boat show

11/01/12 Time you were worrying about the impact of inheritance tax in relation to your boat on your family? Fear not, VI-SA-GB has a solution to those worries with their NEW and exclusive 'boat donation' scheme

EAST 2012 summer sailing availability

05/01/12 A letter from EAST's new co-ordinator

2012 Blind Week summer sailing registration of interest

02/01/12This years blind week invitation letters and e mails have been received from Grant Morris today. If you would like to be considered for sailing on blind week this year from The Royal Cornwall Yacht Club, in Falmouth you are asked to return without delay your registration of interest to Grant Morris

The first VI-SA-GB newsletter of 2012

01.01.12

The first edition of the 2012 VI-SA-GB Newsletter is dropping into mail boxes as we update the news here.

Invitations go out for the 2012 VI-SA-GB gathering

12.12.11

So what is it all about? It promises to be another years successful promotion of VI-sSA-GB’s forthcoming 2012 sailing programme and some ‘heads up’ on the association for all, plus presentations by many of the other organisations that also have sailing opportunities for visually impaired people throughout 2012.

VI-SA-GB is in the sailing press

12.12.11

Yes! national and international coverage thanks to articles in Yachting Monthly (YM) and Practical Boat Owner (PBO) have created huge interest in the association

More 2012 VI-SA-GB News More 2011 VI-SA-GB News
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The Visually Impaired Sailing Association of Great Britain receives no statutory funding and is entirely dependent on donations and contributions from companies, trusts and private individuals.

If you are planning to hold any kind of fundraising activity to raise money and/or awareness for The Visually Impaired Sailing Association of Great Britain please tell us about it and we’ll post it on our events calendar.

e-mail ... the basic details plus the relevant contact details if there are any and we’ll post it on our site within 48 hours.



VI-SA-GB logoAll information provided and presented by the association is protected by copyright © and other intellectual property laws. You may not reproduce, copy or transmit, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the association. Charity registration applied for